2016 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election
# 2016 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2016 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2016 to elect members of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections. One councillor was elected in each ward for a four-year term so the councillors elected in 2016 last stood for election in 2012. Each ward is represented by three councillors, the election of which is staggered, so only one third of the councillors was elected in this election. Before the election there was no overall control with a minority Labour administration. After the election there was still no overall control so the minority Labour administration continued.

In July 2016 Councillor Rob Holden of Ryburn Ward was suspended from the Conservative Party after he made a request for an independent financial audit of the Calder Valley Conservative Association. This led to a criminal investigation into the financial irregularities at the association. He retained his seat on the council as an independent.

A by-election was held on 6 April 2017 in the Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward after the sudden death of Councillor Graham Hall in January 2017. The seat was held by the Conservative Party with George Robinson winning the seat.

By-elections were held on 8 June 2017 in the Rastrick ward and Todmorden ward after the resignation of Rastrick Councillor Lynne Mitchell and Todmorden Councillor Jayne Booth. Rastrick ward was held by the Conservative Party with the election of Sophie Whittaker and Todmorden ward was held by the Labour Party with the election of Carol Machell.

In April 2018 Councillor Mike Payne of Sowerby Bridge Ward was suspended from the Conservative Party pending an investigation by the party after it was discovered that he had shared an article on Twitter in 2013 which called Muslims "parasites". He was not investigated by Calderdale Council as he was not a councillor at the time of the Tweets. He retained his seat on the council as an independent Conservative. He was later reinstated into the party.

## Council results

Calderdale :

| Party | Party | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Party | Party | Stood | Elected | Gained | Unseated | Net | % of total | % | No. | Net % |
| | Labour | 17 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 47.1 | 37.9 | 21,115 | 2.2 |
| | Conservative | 17 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35.3 | 29.9 | 16,697 | 0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 17 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17.6 | 15.4 | 8,588 | 4.3 |
| | UKIP | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.9 | 3,842 | 6.9 |
| | Green | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.1 | 2,844 | 1.3 |
| | Independent | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 1,847 | 0.4 |
| | Yorkshire First | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | 447 | 0.8 |
| | National Front | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 77 | 0.1 |
| | TUSC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 21 | 0.5 |

## Council Composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:

| 24 | 21 | 5 | 1 |
| - | - | - | - |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dem | Ind |

After the election the composition of the council was:

| 23 | 22 | 5 | 1 |
| - | - | - | - |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dem | Ind |
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Labour | 24 | 23 |
| | Conservative | 21 | 22 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5 | 5 |
| | Independent | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 51 | 51 | 51 |

## Ward results

The list of persons nominated were announced by the council once they closed on 7 April 2016. The ward results listed below are based on the changes from the last time this third was up for election, in the 2012 elections, not taking into account any mid-term by-elections or party defections.

### Brighouse ward

Brighouse :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Colin Bryan Peel | 1,290 | 41.5 | -0.8 |
| | Labour | Ann Martin | 1,045 | 33.6 | -13.5 |
| | UKIP | Nick Yates | 521 | 16.7 | +16.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennie Dawn Rigg | 132 | 4.2 | -5.6 |
| | Green | John Richard Ward Nesbitt | 89 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| | TUSC | Samuel George Webb | 21 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 245 | 7.9 | +3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,111 | 37.6 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 6.3 | |

The incumbent was Ann Martin for the Labour Party.

### Calder ward

Calder :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Josh Fenton-Glynn | 2,310 | 49.9 | +14.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janet Mary Battye | 1,424 | 30.7 | -8.4 |
| | Green | Jennifer Mary Shepherd | 444 | 9.6 | -3.6 |
| | Conservative | James Ananda Krishnapillai | 438 | 9.5 | -2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 886 | 19.1 | +15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,632 | 50.6 | +5.7 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 11.3 | |

The incumbent was Janet Battye for the Liberal Democrats.

### Elland ward

Elland :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pat Allen | 1,334 | 43.4 | +7.0 |
| | Conservative | George Andrew Robinson | 676 | 22.0 | -0.8 |
| | Labour | Mohammad Naeem | 546 | 17.8 | -14.0 |
| | UKIP | Mick Clarke | 414 | 13.5 | +13.5 |
| | Green | Katherine Maeve Sweeny | 92 | 3.0 | -5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 658 | 21.4 | +16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,071 | 36.5 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 10.5 | |

The incumbent was Pat Allen for the Liberal Democrats. The swing is expressed between the Liberal Democrats & Labour as Labour was second in 2012.

### Greetland & Stainland ward

Greetland & Stainland :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Alexander Bellenger | 1,195 | 38.4 | -3.0 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Richard Blakey | 996 | 32.0 | +4.2 |
| | Labour | James Stephen Hepplestone | 384 | 12.3 | +1.3 |
| | UKIP | Paul Graham Rogan | 350 | 11.3 | +11.3 |
| | Green | Mark Richard Mullany | 118 | 3.8 | -7.2 |
| | Yorkshire First | Christopher Wade Clinton | 60 | 1.9 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 199 | 6.4 | -7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,111 | 37.2 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -3.6 | |

The incumbent was Malcolm James for the Liberal Democrats who stood down at this election.

### Hipperholme & Lightcliffe ward

Hipperholme & Lightcliffe :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Graham Thomas Hall | 1,998 | 64.2 | +21.4 |
| | Labour | Kashif Ali | 526 | 16.9 | -8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alisdair Calder McGregor | 319 | 10.3 | +6.9 |
| | Green | Susan Jane Wardell | 249 | 8.0 | +8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,472 | 47.3 | +34.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,110 | 35.3 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 14.0 | |

The incumbent was Graham Hall for the Conservative Party. Second place in 2012 was an independent, so the swing which is expressed between Conservative & Labour is significantly increased by the Conservatives regaining the votes which went to the independent in 2012.

### Illingworth & Mixenden ward

Illingworth & Mixenden :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Lisa Ruth Lambert | 1,347 | 48.5 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | Steven Leigh | 688 | 24.8 | +2.4 |
| | UKIP | Angela Stella Thompson | 576 | 20.7 | +20.7 |
| | Green | Tessa Gordziejko | 59 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
| | Independent | Sean Loftus | 49 | 1.8 | -33.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Glen Michael Mattock | 43 | 1.5 | -0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 659 | 23.7 | +15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,776 | 31.0 | -1.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.7 | |

The incumbent was Lisa Lambert for the Labour Party. The swing is between Labour & Conservative. Second place in 2012 was an Ex-BNP councillor and no BNP candidate stood in 2016.

### Luddendenfoot ward

Luddendenfoot :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Jane Scullion | 1,363 | 40.1 | -1.2 |
| | Conservative | Owen Idris Gilroy | 866 | 25.5 | -1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Karl Antony Boggis | 604 | 17.8 | -13.2 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Michael Baksa | 322 | 9.5 | +9.5 |
| | Green | Pete Darren Lucky Leigh Pitfield | 131 | 3.9 | +3.9 |
| | Yorkshire First | Rod Sutcliffe | 109 | 3.2 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 497 | 14.6 | +4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,400 | 42.7 | +4.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.1 | |

The incumbent was Simon Young for the Labour Party who stood down at this election. The swing is expressed between Labour & Conservative although the Liberal Democrats were second in 2012.

### Northowram & Shelf ward

Northowram & Shelf :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Peter Caffrey | 1,929 | 60.5 | +3.9 |
| | Labour | Gary Walsh | 791 | 24.8 | -11.5 |
| | Yorkshire First | Daniel Richard Manning | 222 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| | Green | Elaine Hey | 154 | 4.8 | +4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Francis Taylor | 81 | 2.5 | -3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,138 | 35.7 | +15.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,189 | 35.6 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.7 | |

The incumbent was Peter Caffrey for the Conservative party.

### Ovenden ward

Ovenden :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Anne Collins | 1,142 | 59.7 | -8.4 |
| | Conservative | John Charles Shoesmith | 433 | 22.6 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Katherine Louise Horner | 225 | 11.8 | +11.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mat Bowles | 92 | 4.8 | -5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 709 | 37.1 | -11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,912 | 23.0 | +1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.6 | |

The incumbent was Anne Collins for the Labour Party.

### Park ward

Park :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Jenny Lynn | 2,734 | 70.7 | +7.1 |
| | Independent | Chaudhary Mohammed Saghir | 637 | 16.5 | +16.5 |
| | Conservative | Jeff Featherstone | 252 | 6.5 | -13.6 |
| | Green | Charles Gate | 104 | 2.7 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Dennis Reynolds | 97 | 2.5 | -13.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,097 | 54.2 | +10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,867 | 43.27 | -2.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -4.7 | |

The incumbent was Jenny Lynn for the Labour Party.

### Rastrick ward

Rastrick :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Lynne Louise Mitchell | 1,457 | 48.1 | -1.7 |
| | Labour | Peter Judge | 1,160 | 38.3 | -1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathy Haigh-Hutchinson | 209 | 6.9 | +6.9 |
| | Green | Elizabeth Jane King | 172 | 5.7 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 | 9.8 | -0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,027 | 37.1 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.1 | |

The incumbent was Ann McAllister for the Conservative Party who stood down at this election.

### Ryburn ward

Ryburn :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Geraldine Mary Carter | 1,258 | 35.4 | -9.5 |
| | Independent | Peter John Hunt | 1,161 | 32.7 | +32.7 |
| | Labour | Steve Cliberon | 820 | 23.1 | -10.7 |
| | Green | Freda Mary Davis | 174 | 4.9 | -7.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rosemary Mabel Tatchell | 131 | 3.7 | -4.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 2.7 | -8.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,555 | 40.8 | 9.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.6 | |

The incumbent was Geraldine Carter for the Conservative Party. The swing is expressed between Conservative & Labour presuming the independent candidate has taken votes from both sides and by increasing turnout.

### Skircoat ward

Skircoat :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | John Cecil David Hardy | 1,660 | 44.0 | +3.0 |
| | Labour | Dave Draycott | 1,113 | 29.5 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Alexander Gow | 507 | 13.4 | -16.9 |
| | UKIP | Geoffrey Thompson | 293 | 7.8 | +7.8 |
| | Green | Eric Dolphy Fabrizi | 136 | 3.6 | -3.3 |
| | Yorkshire First | Darren Stansfield | 56 | 1.5 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 547 | 14.5 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,775 | 40.4 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.6 | |

The incumbent was John Hardy for the Conservative Party. The swing is expressed from Labour to Conservative though the more significant swing is 12.5% from Liberal Democrat (who were second in 2012) to Labour.

### Sowerby Bridge ward

Sowerby Bridge :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Adam David Wilkinson | 1,611 | 49.4 | -3.1 |
| | Conservative | Robb Oddy | 911 | 28.0 | -10.8 |
| | UKIP | Roy Charles Thompson | 432 | 13.3 | +13.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom Stringfellow | 161 | 4.9 | -7.3 |
| | Green | Karen Elizabeth Levin | 131 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 700 | 21.5 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,259 | 38.5 | +6.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.4 | |

The incumbent was Adam Wilkinson for the Labour Party. The biggest swing was 9.5% from Conservative to UKIP.

### Todmorden ward

Todmorden :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Steve Sweeney | 1,578 | 45.8 | 10.6 |
| | Conservative | Gilbert John Hector Gregory | 753 | 21.8 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joe Rez | 381 | 11.0 | -17.7 |
| | Green | Alan Patrick McDonald | 333 | 9.7 | +1.6 |
| | UKIP | Philip Anthony Walters | 309 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
| | National Front | Chris Jackson | 77 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 825 | 23.9 | +17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,449 | 39.0 | +4.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 14.1 | |

The incumbent was Steve Sweeney for the Labour Party. The swing is expressed between Labour and the Liberal Democrats who were second in 2012. The swing between Labour and Conservative was 3.9% towards Labour. The National Front percentage change is listed as +2.2% as there was no National Front candidate in 2012, it is by comparison 6.2% down compared to the showing of another far-right party The British Peoples Party in 2012.

### Town ward

Town :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Megan Kathleen Swift | 1,283 | 47.8 | -15.2 |
| | UKIP | Phillip Spencer Charlton | 625 | 23.3 | +23.3 |
| | Conservative | Mark Llewellyn Edwards | 571 | 21.3 | -4.8 |
| | Green | Sarah Louise Moakler | 116 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ruth Coleman-Taylor | 78 | 2.9 | -6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 658 | 24.5 | -12.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,682 | 30.9 | +5.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -19.2 | |

The incumbent was Megan Swift for the Labour Party. The swing is shown as 19.2% from Labour to UKIP who did not stand in 2012. The swing between Labour & Conservatives who were second in 2012 is 5.2% from Labour to Conservative.

### Warley ward

Warley :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ashley John Richard Evans | 1,800 | 46.9 | +9.8 |
| | Labour | Surraya Bibi | 1,362 | 35.5 | -5.3 |
| | Conservative | Tony Fall | 521 | 13.6 | -7.7 |
| | Green | Hena Chowdhury | 117 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 438 | 11.4 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,834 | 43.2 | +7.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 7.5 | |

The incumbent was Martin Burton for the Labour Party who stood down at this election.

## By-elections between 2016 and 2018

### Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward, 2017

Hipperholme and Lightcliffe By-Election 6 April 2017 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | George Andrew Robinson | 1,483 | 60.21 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alisdair Calder McGregor | 420 | 17.05 |
| | Labour | Oliver George Willows | 407 | 16.52 |
| | Green | Elaine Hey | 150 | 6.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,063 | 43.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,463 | 27.82 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Rastrick ward, 2017

Rastrick By-Election 8 June 2017 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Sophie Jane Whittaker | 2,929 | 49.28 |
| | Labour | Colin Hugh Hutchinson | 2,466 | 41.49 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathy Haigh-Hutchinson | 298 | 5.01 |
| | Green | Barry Edward Crossland | 229 | 3.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 463 | 7.79 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,944 | 70.66 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Todmorden ward, 2017

Todmorden By-Election 8 June 2017 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Carol Ann Machell | 3,648 | 54.78 |
| | Conservative | Gilbert John Hector Gregory | 2,076 | 31.18 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Donal Antony Martin O'Hanlon | 448 | 6.73 |
| | Green | Angharad Lois Turner | 446 | 6.70 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,572 | 23.61 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,659 | 71.82 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
